Apparatus for working standard steel billets



L Oct. 27, 1936. LE ROY LAYToN APPARATUS FOR WORKING STANDARD STEEL BILLETS Original Filed Feb, 15, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 27, 1936. LE RQY LAYTON 2,()5924 APPARATUS FOR WORKING STANDARD STEEL BILLETS original Filed Feb. 15, 1934 3 sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1936. 'LE RoY LAYTON 2,059,124

APPARATUS FOR WORKING STANDARD STEEL BILLETS `Original Filed Feb. 15, 1934 T 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ct. 27, 1936 NT OFFICE APPARATUS ron WORKING STAND STEEL BILLETS a Le Roy Layton, Lansdowne, Pa., assignor to Lansdowne Steel & Iron Company, Morton, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application February 15, 1934, Serial No. 711,440. Divided and this application November 7,1935, Serial No. 48,771

6 Claims.

This is a division of my application for patent, led February 15, 1934, Seial No. 711,440.

This invention primarilyrelates to a new and useful apparatus for reducing the diagonal dimensions of standard steel billets, of rectangular cross section, preparatory to forming the billets into commercial products of various predetermined shapes, in cases where the measurements across the corner extremities of the billets are objectionable in transforming the billets into the product desired.

f 'I'he invention more particularly concerns the reduction of lthe diagonal measurements across the relatively sharp right-angular corners of a standard square billet to a definite predetermined size, thereby effecting a change in the. billet from the rectangular to a more or less rounded, circular, or octagonal cross section suitable for entrance into a definitely sized and contoured fixed mouth opening of a forging die, whereby `the length of the billet and the depth of the die may be materially reduced fora given product below the length of billet and depth of die necessary to produce the same product withV a full-square billet having diagonal measurementscapable of entering the same Sized mouth' opening of the die.

The present invention obviates vthe necessity for a forge shop to purchase double conversion steel, of the above noted cross sectional shapes, in order to use the `shallower die, thereby'eifecting a substantial monetary saving to the manufacturer in view of the cost of double conversion steel being materially greater than the cost ,of rough single conversion billets, as it is necessary, in producing the/ above notedshapes, to subject the rough standard billet to a second heating in order to change the standard squareshape thereof to the cross section desired.

In the second conversion of the steel from the rough billet to the desired Shape extreme care is taken to reduce the billet to accurate dimensions in the shape ordered. In cases where the shape is to be used for subsequent forging purposes such accuracy is unessential and in fact is lost when :the shape is reheated 4:prior to its being placed in the forging die. In forging, the only dimensions of consequence are the cross sectional measurement across the extremities of the shape,

thus the additional cost attending the use of the `doublelconversion stock is unwarranted when the -steel is to be used for forging purposes.

Furthermore, under the current steel code, bi1- lets under the 4" size are rated as bar stock and its cost to the forge shop rates substantially (Cl. .Z9-33) equivalent to that of second conversion Steel. Thus, a manufacturer of forged shapes requiring the use of a billet less than a 4" standard is required to pay such a. high price for his forging stock that he is unable to-compete with the larger mills which work the steel through from ingot to forging.

By the present invention the smaller manufacturer of forged products may purchase the cheaper 4" standard billet Stock; break the stock into predetermined lengths suitable for the desired forged product; heat the billet for forging; and, under this same heat, prior and preparatory to thel dropping of the .heated billet into the forging die, he may reduce the diagonal measurements of the standard 4" billet and thereby preshape the billet to a size and form which will conveniently fit into a die having a mouth opening of such a small Size that it ordinarily could. not take or accommodate a standard 4" billet. The only. limitations inr this respect is that the area of the mouth opening of the die. in square inches, be slightly greater than the number of square, inches in the cross sectional area of the standard 4" billet. 25

'I'he above comparisons are given as an example to illustrate one extremely valuable application of the apparatus forming the subject matter of the present case, and from the above, and from the following description, it will be obvious to one familiar with the art ythat the'apparatus is applicable to the working of billets or stock vof sizes larger and smaller than the 4" standard size to be used with dies having mouth openings of the same general relatively proportioned sizes as notedabove. l

The construction and operation of the apparatus forming the subject of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; of which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the passageof a billet from the heating furnace throughthepreshaping apparatus and into the forging v`l`die in a single heat, in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectlonalvelevation taken on the line 2-2,Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a. plan view of the die showing the prei 3, shaped'billet therein; v-

. f v i Fig. 4 is asectional plan view of the preshaping apparatus and the mechanism for passing the heated billet therethrough on its way tothe die;

Fig. is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevation of the die with the preshaping apparatus disposed above and in axial alignment therewith;

Fig. 7 diagrammatically illustrates the preshaping apparatus aligned with the nal pass in the rolls of a standard billet single conversion rolling mill; and y Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on the line S31-8, Fig. 7.

As shown in Fig. l, a billet B of predetermined length, after having been heated to the desired temperature in a suitable furnace A, passes from the furnace along a roller table 2, in which is a step 3 dropping :from the plane thereof to the plane of a second and lower roller table d.

The billet, in passing from the table 2 to the table 4, drops in iront of the tread of the step 3 into the path of a ram 5, in the present instance, which advances the billet B along the table 4 into a mouth t formed at ont end of a throat l which guides the heated billet B to and between two pairs of diametrlcally opposed preshaping rollers ii), ill of a preshaping or converting device C.

The rollers ii), lil are set in planes at 90 apart about the axis of the throat 1, each in a position in line with and adapted to engageone of the relatively sharp right-angular corners b, l) of the billet ZB, whereby, as the heated billet is lpassed through thel converter C, between said rollers, the sharp corners b are pressed radially inwardly and :flattened or rounded as desired, as indicated at b1, the'at sides b2, b3 of the billet, at the same time, being bulged outwardly, as indicated at b3, which reduces the diagonal dimensions :c (see Fig. 2) of the billet sumciently to permit the heated billet to drop ireely into the mouth opening d of a forging die D.

In the present instance, the mouth opening d is circular in contour and of a. diameter less than the diagonal measurement across the fullsquare corners b, b of the billet B, prior to its passage through the preshaping or converting apparatus C, which .make the billet B unsuitable yfor use in a die of the size disclosed. However, by pressing the corners of the billet inwardly and by bulging the sides of the billet outwardly the billet is preshaped to a form and size capable of conveniently fitting into the mouth opening d of the die D as the preshaped billet passes along a roller table 3 from the converting or preshap- :lng apparatus C to the die D.

Incidentally to the preshaping of the billet, in lthe manner above noted, the compression of the corners and the expansion of the sides of the billet B automatically removes'the scale from the billet preparatory to its passing into the die. Heretofore it has been necessary to manually scale a billet as it is passed from the heating iurnace A to the die D. Thus the present invention in addition to the advantages afforded thereby and recited above effects the additional advantage of automatically scaling the billet.

After the billet is dropped into the die D it is squeezed in the usual manner by a pressing tool l l to compress the billet in the die to illl thelower end thereof and to prepare the billet for reception of the piercing tool it, by which an axial cavity is formed 'in 'the billet and the heated metal is forced into contact with the inner wall of the die D up and around the piercing tool i2, to form the hnished forging.

The tools il and it. in the present instance accenna are mounted on a suitable head for lateral movement to align one or the other of the tools with the die D, said head being operable vertically by hydraulic pressure in the usual cylinder of a conventional hydraulic forge press.

While the heated billet B may be either pushed or drawn through the converting or preshaping .head C to effect the preshaping thereof, in the manner above noted, it is preferable to push the billet through the converter, and for this reason the ram t in the present case is connected lto a ram plunger i5. The ram plunger i5 is slidably mounted for axial movement in a hydraulic cylinder it which is supplied from any suitable source, such for example as the accumulator oi the press which actuates the tools ii and i2.

The cylinder it, 'in the present instance, is provided with laterally extending lugs, or a flange, il rigidly connected, by anchor rods i8, iii, with the head 20', of the converter C, in which the preshaping rolls i0, I0 are freely rotatably mounted.

As shown in Fig. 5, each of the preshaping rolls in is provided with trunnions 2l, 2i respectively, which are freely rotatably mounted in bearings 22,l 22 slidably mounted in guideways 23, 23 :formed in the head 2t, said bearings being maintained in said head against longitudinal movement, on one side,by the iiange 25 of the guide throat l which is secured firmly against one side of the head by shoulders on the anchor bolts i6; and against movement in the opposite direction by a plate 24a secured to the head 29 by the nuts is which secure the anchor bolts i3 to the said head 2i) of the converter C.

Radial adjustment of the rolls iii, for the purpose of reducing'the corners of the billet to a greater or less extent as desired, may be accomplished in any suitable manner and for this purpose, in the present instance, behind each of the bearings 22 is placed a removable filler block 25. Obviously, by placing thicker or thinner filler blocks behind the bearings 22 relative radial adjustment of the rolls it may be accomplished.

Secured to the ram plunger i5, and slidably mounted on the anchor bolts i8, is a transversely extending head-plate 2t in which is secured a pair of ram-return cylinders 2l, 2l. The cylinciers 2l respectively receive a pair of hollow return plungers 2B, 28 each having one end xed in a lug 28 formed on and extending laterally from the converter head 2i) and supplied with motive iluid from a suitable source, such as the accumulator of the press, through suitably valved pipes 30, te.

Obviously, pressure applied to one end of the cylinder i6 through the pipe i4 will effect longitudinal movement of the plunger i5 and ram 5 to .'iorce the billet B through the guide throat l and between the preshaping rolls il), i3, whereupon, by opening the pipe i4 to exhaust and by applying pressure to the cylinders 2l, through the pipes tu and .fixed plungers 28, the ram 5 and the ram plunger l5 Will be returned to a position for receiving another billet.

In Fig. 6, the converter C1 is shown as being disposed above and in axial alignment with a die D1, said converter being slidably mounted on a suitable guide and support 3i for movement .into and out of alignment with the die D1. The billet in this instance is conveyed fromv the furnace to the die in any suitable manner and passed endtvise into the guide throat la through which and between the rolls I0, I Il the billet is forced by a vertically operable ram 32. The ram 32 may be carried by the cross head of the press in which the tools Il and I2 are mounted.

After the-billet B1 has been forced through the converter C1 into the die D1 by the ram 32 said ram is retractediand the converter C1 moved out of alignment with the die D1 along the supporting guide 3i, whereupon, the cross head of the press is moved laterally to move the ram 32 out of alignment with the die D1and to move the piercing tool ll into alignment with the die D1, after which the forging of the billet is carried on in the usual manner.

In the foregoing the preshaping of the billet for entrance into the die for forging has been disclosed as being performed in the forging heat. that is, during the passage of the billet from the furnace A to the die D, which constitutes a heating for a major operation in connection with the forming of a billet into a forging. It is quite possible to perform this preshaping operation during the heat in which the major operation of reduing the billet from the ingot is performed and for this purpose Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the preshaping or converting apparatus C2 as being mounted in alignment with the final pass 35 through which the billet is passed in the rolling mill in reducing an ingot to a billet, such pass being formed asgusual in a pair of rolls 36, 36 which are rotatably mounted in the mill frames 31 and 38 and driven from any suitable source in the usual manner.

As a matter of convenience and in order to keep the preshaping head out of the way during movement of the steel back and forth through the various passes of the ingot reducing rolls during the process of reducing the ingot to the billet, the converting` head C2 may'be'mounted in front of the rolls 36, 36 in any suitable manner which will permit the said head to be moved into an inoperative position relative to the roll passes during the working of the billet into its nal form and subsequently into an operating position, in line with the last pass of the billet rolls, in order that the finished billet, in its final passage from the rolls 36, 36 willenter the converting head C2 and be engaged by the preshaping rolls l0, Ill.

While the head C2 may be pivotally mounted for swinging movement about either a vertical or horizontal axis to move it out of the way, in the present instance the hea C2 is shown as being slidably mounted on a pair of guide rails 39, 39 extending from and between and secured at their oppositeA ends to the roll frames 31 and 38. For the purpose of moving the converter head C2 on the rails 39, 39 a cylinder 40, in the present instance, is secured to one of the frames, for example the frame 38. Slidably mounted in the cylinder 4l) is a suitable piston having a rod 4I passing out of one end of the cylinder and operatively connected 'in any suitable manner to 'the converterhead C2, uid pressure being supplied to and exhausted from the opposite ends of the cylinder 40 by suitable pipes 42 and 43 respectively. I claim: j 1. The. combination of a forging die having a billet-receiving opening of predetermined crosssectional dimensions, a preshapingdevice adapted to receive a billet of greater diagonal dimensions cross-sectionally of the billet than the largest cross-sectional measurement of the die opening and comprising means arranged to engage the diagonal corners solely of said billet to press said corners radially toward the longitudinal axis of the billet simultaneously and simultaneously bulging the billet radially between said corners to measurements less than said dimensions of the die opening, and means for passing a billet through said device to preshape the billet preparatory to its entrance into the die.

2. A billet preshaping device comprising a plurality of rollers arranged respectively in angularly spaced planes for engaging and c'ompressing corner extremities solely of a flat sided billet passing through said device between said rolls and with the side edges of the billet-engaging faces of said rollers spaced apart to provide for radial bulging of the at sides of the billet intermediate said rollers.

3. A billet preshaping device comprising a plurality of rollers arranged. respectively in planes radiating from a common center for engaging and compressing corner extremities solely of a at sided billet passed through said device with its axis substantially coincident with said common center and with the side edges of the billet-engaging faces. of said rollers spaced apart to provide for radial bulging of the flat sides of the billet intermediate said rollers.

4. A billet preshaping device comprising two pairs of rollers arranged in right angularly disposed planes radiating from a common center with the roller of each pair arranged in diametrically opposed relation to each other for respectively engaging and radially compressing corner extremities solely of a square billet passed through the device with its longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with said common center and with the side edges of the billet-engaging faces of said rollers spaced apart to provide for radial bulging of the fiat sides of the billet intermediate said rollers.

5. A billet preshaping device comprising two pairs of rollers arranged in right angularly disposed planes radiating from a common center with the roller of eachpair arranged in diametrically opposed relation to each other for respectively engaging and radially compressing corner extremities solely of a square billet passed through the device with its longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with said common center and with the side edges of the billet-engaging faces of said rollers spaced apart to provide for radial bulging of the flat sides of the billet intermediate said rollers, and a guide at one side of said device for substantially aligning said corners with said rollers respectively.

6. A billet preshaping device comprising two pairs of rollers arranged in right angularly disposed planes radiating from a common center with the roller of each pair arranged in diametrically opposed relation to each other for respeci tively engaging and radially compressing corner extremities solely of a square billet passed through the device with its longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with said center and with the side edges of the billet-engaging faces of said rollers tively, and means for passing said billet through said guide and between said rollers.

LE ROY LAYTCN. 

